Wednesday 25 December 2013

Kashmiri Sabaz Chai (Pink Tea)

بِسْمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Kashmiri Sabaz Chai

Kashmiri Sabaz Chai (also known as Pink tea or Salt Tea) is a pink milky tea with that is consumed at special occasions such as weddings, and drank during the winter months. It is a very soothing chai and my mother usually makes this for us after we have had an indulgent rich meal. It really is a treat. Once again the ingredients vary from family to family. Baking soda is usually added to enhance the colour of the tea. 

I will show you how my mother makes it for us with only variation being I decided to add Star Anise to add that extra alluring potency. Star Anise has a earthy headiness about it with sweet subtle undertones. I find it really compliments the cardamoms in this chai.

Oh! Lastly I would just like to add that this tea take up to an hour to make! 

So here is what you will need.



Ingredients

2 Tspn Kashmiri chai leaves. ( You can buy this in Asian grocery stores, if still hard to find you can use black tea or green tea)
4 Cups of water
8 cups of cold water (4 to use for boiling in beginning, 3 for later)
2 Cups of milk
6 Green Cardamom Pods
1 Cinnamom stick
1 star anise
1 tspn of Salt
3 tbsns of sugar or to your taste

Method

1. Add 4 cups if cold water to a pan and bring to boil.
2. Add the tea leaves and cardamoms, star anise and salt, bring to a boil and then turn down heat and allow it to simmer for 25- 30 minutes.


3. Then add 2 cups of cold water. Adding the cold water will release the pink colour of the tea. You will see the colour intensify.
 

4. Mix well and bring to the boil again, and then turn down low and allow to simmer for around 10 minutes.
5. As it is simmering whisk from time to time till it froths us. Or in the traditional way pour from jug to jug.
6. Now add 1 more cup of cold water and again bring to boil, once boiling turn heat down and simmer for 5 mins whisking away gently.

See how the colour intensifies.

7. Next add your 2 cups of milk, ensure you whisk whilst pouring.


8. Add Sugar and cook for another 10 minutes.
9. Turn off and pour into cups and sprinkle with chopped Pistachios. Enjoy :)



Bil-hana wa ash shifa'a!




No comments:

Post a Comment